October 2010 Archives

A STRONG second half effort failed to rescue a deserved replay as Colwyn Bay were beaten 2-1 in their FA Trophy second qualifying round against FC United of Manchester at Gigg Lane.
Luck was not on their side as they hit the frame of the goal three times and had another effort cleared off the line with the keeper beaten. But in the end they paid for a timid first half performance in which they showed a lack of belief and gave the opposition too much respect.
"You would have thought we were playing Manchester United rather than FC United," agreed player-manager Dave Challinor.
"We played really well in the second half, particularly when Lee Davey and Mick McGraa came on, but we should have been playing like that from the start.
"Even so, we have hit the bar twice and the post and had one cleared off the line. It can be such a fine margin between winning and losing and on another day we would have won this game - although once again I felt we paid for some poor decision making in the final third of field."
For Challinor and assistant Colin Woodthorpe it was not the happy return to Gigg Lane they had hoped for and Colin, who played there for six years with Bury, was particularly disappointed.
"I am not sure if we did deserve a draw," he said afterwards.
"It was a great opportunity for us today because they (FC United) clearly had one eye on next week's FA Cup tie against Rochdale, but we threw it all away in the first half.
"We allowed them to take the initiative and although we huffed and puffed in the second half, at 2-0 they were able to sit back and defend.
"The players have to be switched on for 90 minutes and play at a high tempo from the start, not just the second half, and if some of them aren't willing to do that then we will have to find other players that are."
One player that certainly can't be included in any criticism is Danny Grannon who played his first full game since his hamstring injury and was my man of the match for the Bay.
Apart from his solid work in defence, he could have had a hat-trick, scoring with a fine header and hitting the bar and the post with two other efforts.
"The first one (that hit the bar) hit me more than me heading it and was a bit of reaction thing, but I really thought the second one was going in," he said. "It hit the inside of the post and came out and I think that rather summed up our luck on the day.
"I am disappointed because I thought we definitely deserved to get a replay out of it. We played the ball around well in the second half and Lee Davey did great when he came on, giving their left back a torrid time."
The good news is that Danny's hamstring came through the game fine and he was delighted to be back in the starting line-up after two games on the bench.
"Tell me about it! I was made up when I heard I was playing," he beamed.
He could have helped put Bay a goal up inside the opening three minutes when Gareth Evans' shot from Jon Newby's pull-back beat the keeper but was cleared off the line by full-back Lee Neville, and from the resulting corner Grannon's header hit the bar and bounced over.
Yet almost straight from the goalkick FC United went down the other end and scored with Jerome Wright putting over a deep cross from the left which clear Bay's covering defenders and Chris Ovington ran in from the right to smash a first time shot past Chris Sanna.
Colwyn Bay seemed to lose belief after that, stood off and allowed the home side to dictate much of the play, and they got a second goal five minutes before half-time when Jerome Wright, who had been a real threat down the left, fired in an angled shot which took a slight deflection off Luke Denson to wrong-foot Sanna as it flew into the far corner of the net.
Grannon then hit the inside of a post with a header from Dave Challinor's long throw just before half-time and from the rebound home keeper Sam Ashton smothered Gareth Evans' shot at point blank range.
The Bay had it all to do in the second half, but came out strongly and after a spell of good pressure pulled a goal back on 66 minutes with a fine header by Grannon from Mike Lea's free kick.
They should have been level with 15 minutes left when Newby's good run and cross set up a golden chance for McGraa, but from six yards out his header hit the underside of the bar and bounced out.
The Bay piled on the pressure in the closing stages with the keeper turning Lee Davey's shot for a corner and numerous shots and headers being blocked by defenders in the goalmouth as the home side held on for the win.
It means the Bay have suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, but Dave Challinor has taken some positives from the match.
"It is disappointing for the club from a financial point of view and for me because on another day we would have won that match.
"But it was a chance for players who really want to progress to go out on a big stage and show what they can do and I thought Lee Davey did that when he came on."
Davey will certainly now get a full game on Tuesday against Connah's Quay in the North Wales Coast FA Cup, along with other squad players like Sam Bailey, Joe O'Sullivan, Anthony Sheehan and keeper Andy Metcalf.
"Our next two league games (away to Stocksbridge and Burscough) are going to be real battles and we need to keep some of our key players back for them," added Dave Challinor.
His main concern is still his lack of options in attack and although Joe McMahon came on as a late substitute to play up front against FC United , the player-boss says: "We are asking him to play in a position he is not used to and it is not really the answer.
"The search for a big striker is still ongoing and and I am having another go at a player who turned us down last week over the travelling in the hope that I can persuade him to change his mind."
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Lea, Challinor, Grannon, McLachlan, Evans (McGraa 60mins), Allen, Noon (McMahon 78mins), Newby, Sheridan (Davey 53mins). Subs not used: Sheehan and Metcalf.
Attendance: 1,259.

COLWYN BAY will wait for a late fitness test on midfielder Gareth Evans before finalising their line-up for Saturday's FA Trophy tie against FC United of Manchester at Bury's Gigg Lane stadium.
Evans had to be substituted with an ankle injury during Tuesday's home defeat to Marine, but the injury is not thought to be too serious.
"We may change the shape of the team because of the way FC United play which could involve a couple of personnel changes, but that all depends on how Gaz is," reported player-manager Dave Challinor.
Danny Grannon, however, is fit again after injury and must come under consideration for a return in central defence, while midfielder Mick McGraa is also available after missing the last two games with flu.
The fact that the Seagulls conceded six goals in those two games could prompt their recall, although Challinor says he is not over concerned.
"The goals have in the main been down to individual errors and if we can cut those out then I am sure we will be fine," he said.
The Seagulls, however, face a big test against a side that has been in good form in recent weeks and are expecting a near 2,000 crowd for the tie.
Although they made an inconsistent start to the season, FCUM have won their last five games, scoring 18 goals and conceding only four, and their 1-0 win over Blue Square Premier side Barrow in the FA Cup last Sunday, has set up a lucrative live televised game against Rochdale in the first round proper next Friday night.
But Challinor, who watched the win over Barrow, expects his players to be up for the challenge.
He commented: "It not only means a lot to the club financially (£3,000 in prizemoney to the winners of today's tie), but it is a chance for our lads to show what they are capable on a big stage in front of a big crowd against one of the best supported teams in the league (an average home gate this season of over 1,600).
"They (FC United) like to get the ball down and play, as we do, so it should be a great game to watch and play in."
The tie also means a return to Gigg Lane for the Bay quartet of Challinor, assistant Colin Woodthorpe, Jon Newby and skipper Damien Allen, who spent around 15 years between them playing there for Bury.
Woodthorpe has particularly fond memories of the place as he also made his Football League debut at Gigg Lane with Chester City and later had six years there with Bury.
Colwyn Bay (from): Sanna, Denson, Lea, Challinor, McMahon, Grannon, McLachlan, Sheridan, Allen, Noon, Newby, Sheehan, Evans, McGraa, Davey, O'Sullivan, Bailey, Metcalf.

FC United manager Karl Marginson says: "Colwyn Bay are a good, experienced side with what are very good capable footballers for this level so they'll be no pushovers.
"The message we'll be stressing on Saturday is to apply the same effort as last weekend - just because we're playing a Football League side next week (Rochdale in the FA Cup) doesn't mean we're suddenly one of the big boys.
"We want to keep our winning streak going and go into next Friday's game with confidence sky high."
Strikers Ben Deegan (hamstring) and Glynn Hurst (calf) are both likely to miss Saturday's match, but 12-goal top scorer Mike Norton is set to play and FC United's players go into the game knowing that they have the opportunity to cement a place in the team for next Friday's big FA Cup tie.
Ticket prices for Saturday at Gigg Lane are £8 for adults, £5 for concessions and £2 for under-18s.

COLWYN BAY'S inconsistent home form continued with a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Marine (Oct 26).
In the end the Merseysiders were deserved victors and gained some revenge for FA Cup and league defeats against the Seagulls over the last six weeks.
They looked much more up for the game from the start and player-boss Dave Challinor pulled no punches in his summing up afterwards.
"I thought the body language and attitude of some of our players stunk to be honest and they have been told so," he said. "Marine showed more desire than us and they outworked and outfought us."
With a big FA Trophy game against FC United of Manchester on Saturday, Challinor admits he has a lot to mull over once the dust has settled on this latest home setback.
I think Danny Grannon, who looked good when he came on in the second half, will start in defence and Mick McGraa should also be back in midfield after missing a couple of games with flu.
McGraa's tenacity was certainly missed in midfield against a Marine side who were quite physical in the first half and rarely allowed the Bay to set up any attacking momentum.
Marine started strongly from the kick off and were unlucky not to score early on when Steve Hussey's free kick hit the underside of the bar and bounced out with Chris Sanna beaten.
They were in front after 17 minutes, however, when the Bay lost the ball in midfield and Neil Harvey beat the offside trap to race clear and shoot past the advancing Sanna.
Sanna then saved from Jamie Rainford before Colwyn Bay started to put some pressure on in the closing stages of the half.
Jon Newby should have equalised but failed to beat keeper Ryan McMahon from eight yards and then wasted another good opening with an overhit cross when the keeper was out of his ground.
Marine were the dominant side again at the start of the second half and Harvey, playing his first game since breaking his arm in pre-season, got his second goal on 63 minutes with a cheeky back-heel from Rainford's low cross.
It could have been worse as Challinor and substitute Grannon both cleared goalbound efforts off the line.
Colwyn Bay did produce a late rally with Sheridan and Davey introduced from the bench and Joe McMahon pushed up into attack, but Damien Allen fired a chance against the crossbar from Sheridan's pass, Newby got past the keeper but saw his shot cleared off the line by John Shaw, and Newby and Davey both had strong shouts for a penalty turned down by the referee.
It clearly wasn't Bay's night and Marine broke away in added time for Rainford to seal victory with the third goal.
While their away form has been superb, the Bay have now dropped 13 out of 21 points at home and that has to be a concern as they drop out of the top four.
Wednesday's results made Tuesday's defeat even more expensive as they dropped the Bay down to eighth place - and four of the teams above them now have games in hand.
Challinor warned: "We are at the stage of the season now where teams know a lot more about us and have worked on ways of coming here and stopping us playing. We have to learn to combat that."
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Lea, Challinor, McMahon, McLachlan (Sheridan 54mins), Evans (Grannon 64mins), Allen, Noon (Davey 75mins), Newby, Sheehan. Subs not used: O'Sullivan, Metcalf.
Attendance: 283.
Gareth Evans had to come off after getting a whack on the ankle but Dave Challinor reported he didn't think it is too serious.
"It will be sore tomorrow and we'll have to see how it settles down over the next couple of days," he said.

COLWYN BAY will be aiming to consolidate their position in the top five play-off places by chalking up a third victory in just over six weeks against Marine at Lanelian Road on Tuesday (Oct 26th,7.45pm kick-off).
The Seagulls have had two wins and a draw in FA Cup and league games against the Merseysiders in that period, but player-manager Dave Challinor is warning his side against any complacency.
"Another win would put is in a very decent situation in the league, but we should be under no illusions - our previous results against Marine will count for nothing and they will be coming determined not to suffer another defeat against us," he said.
Marine are unbeaten in their last three games, including a 3-1 away win at Ashton United, and were only denied a victory against North Ferriby last Saturday by a 90th minute equaliser.
They have, however, lost the services of midfielder Lee Parle, who has joined Skelmersdale United.
Mick McGraa, who has been ill with flu, looks likely to be only absentee for the Seagulls, but Challinor says he is contemplating one or changes from the side that won 5-3 at Retford last Saturday, which moved the Bay up fourth place in the table.
"We may revert to the system that worked so well in our previous games against Marine, which could mean a couple of changes, but we will have to see how everybody is before we make a late decision on that," he reported.
Danny Grannon, who came on in the second half at Retford, is pressing for a place in the starting line-up, although Joe McMahon, who has played in the last three games while Grannon has been injured, will be keen to keep his place and face the club he left just over three weeks ago.
Grannon came on for Challinor to play alongside McMahon during the second half last Saturday, and the player-boss said: "Signing Joe has given us options at the back and I wanted to see how he and Danny played together - and I though they did OK."
Challinor, however, says he intends to play himself against Marine so it looks as though he will have to decide whether it is McMahon or Grannon who plays alongside him.
Colwyn Bay (from): Sanna, Denson, Lea, Challinor, Grannon, McMahon, MacLachlan, Sheridan, Allen, Noon, Newby, Evans, O'Sullivan, Sheehan, Davey, Bailey, Metcalf

COLWYN BAY moved into the top four of the Evostik Premier Division with a 5-3 away win at Retford (Oct 23).
The Seagulls took a 3-0 lead in the first half through Dave Challinor, Damien Allen and Karl Noon, before Retford pulled it back to 3-2 at half-time.
Gareth Evans and Noon added further goals in the second half to secure the points before Retford got their third.
Colwyn Bay are now four points behind joint leaders Northwich and Halifax.
I'm back from abroad for Tuesday's game against Marine when my normal blog service will resume.

COLWYN BAY made progress in the FA Trophy with a 2-0 home win over Bradford Park Avenue in the first qualifying round (Oct 16).
Jon Newby and Damien Allen scored the goals for the Seagulls and they have now been drawn away to FC United of Manchester in the second qualifying round to be played at Bury's Gigg Lane ground on October 30.
I couldn't make the Bradford game, but I am told the Bay should have won by more, missing a penalty and several one-on-ones against a Bradford side who had a player sent off early in the second half.

COLWYN BAY have had a double fitness boost for Saturday's (Oct 16) home tie against Bradford Park Avenue in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy (3pm).
Skipper Damien Allen has shaken off a knee injury that forced him out of Tuesday's league win against Burscough early in the second half, and central defender Danny Grannon was also able to train on Thursday after recovering much quicker than expected from a hamstring injury.
"It means we should have everyone available," reported player-manager Dave Challinor.
"Danny being able to train on Thursday was an unexpected bonus for us, although we'll need to check that there has been no reaction," he added.
Hopes of Challinor being able to unveil a new striker, however, have collapsed.
"I did make an offer to a player this week, but after thinking things over he felt the travelling to North Wales was a problem," reported the player-boss.
"I'm disappointed, but we move on and will continue to look at other options."
Meanwhile, he is delighted that the Seagulls have picked up the Evostik Premier Division's Fair Play award for August and September.
Challinor agrees discipline on the field is important and said: "With a small squad we don't want to lose players through suspension. We are not a physical side anyway, which probably helps, and if we can continue as we have for the rest of the season I will be delighted."
Saturday's game provides a break from the pressure of chasing league points, but is important financially to the club.
A good run in the FA Trophy can boost the bank balance, with £2,200 in prizemoney going to the winners of Saturday's tie alone.
Colwyn Bay drew 2-2 at home to Bradford Park Avenue in the league in August in a game they should have won, but the Yorkshire side come to Lanelian Road on the back of three consecutive league victories.
The last thing the Bay players will want, however, is a draw. They are due to have their first full week off since the start of the season and will not want that ruined by having to play a midweek replay at Bradford.

COLWYN BAY have won the Evostik Premier Division's Fair Play award, sponsored by "Soccerade" for the combined months of August and September.
The Seagulls took the award with a mere seven cautions in the eight league games they played and fininshed top of the Fair Play table, just ahead of Worksop Town and North Ferriby United. Witton Albion took the Division One North award.
By comparison this Saturday's FA Trophy opponents Bradford Park Avenue, had 27 yellows and one red in their 10 games, and it shows how disciplined the Bay side have been under the management of Dave Challinor and Colin Woodthorpe.
The team did not win one of the monthly awards last season when they finished ninth in the Division One North Fair Play table with 60 yellows and four red cards.

JON NEWBY scored a late winner 12 minutes from the end to give Colwyn Bay a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Burscough which has temporarily lifted them up to sixth place in the table.
It was a really important win following Saturday's 6-0 defeat to Northwich, and the Seagulls moved to within two points of fourth-placed Bradford Park Avenue with a game in hand.
They had the better of the first half and took the lead on 28 minutes when a Gareth Evans shot was blocked by a defender's hand in the area and Ian Sheridan scored from the resulting penalty.
But despite having most of the play after that they couldn't force a second goal before half-time.
Karl Noon put in a great run to open up the best chance but blazed his shot over the bar and the Bay weren't able to test keeper Sean Lake, although three times in the first half Jon Newby fired balls across the face of the Burscough goal with no Colwyn Bay player able to get the touch needed to turn them into goals.
Burscough made a double substitution at half-time and started the second half strongly, forcing Chris Sanna to make his first save of the game on 51 minutes.
They were narrowly off target with with two other good efforts and their pressure paid off with an equaliser on 61 minutes.
From a free kick on the left, Darren Byers scored with a well-placed header beyond the diving Sanna.
Colwyn Bay looked very nervy at the back at that stage, but managed to hit back with Gareth Evans heading narrowly wide from a Sheridan cross.
Fraser McLachlan was then unlucky when his shot from 20 yards thudded against a post with the keeper beaten, and Noon's acrobatic header from the rebound went just wide.
The winner, however, came on 78 minutes when Joe McMahon headed down a Michael Lea corner and Newby volleyed into the net from six yards.
Burscough keeper Sean Lake then made a diving save from Karl Noon, but Burscough pressed hard for a second equaliser and made it an anxious last five minutes or so for the home fans.
Manager Dave Challinor admitted it had been a tough game, but said: "It was nice to bounce back from Saturday and get three points - and the fact that we have moved up to sixth place shows how important wins can be in this division.
"I think both sides were a bit nervy and edgy after suffering big defeats at the weekend and that showed, but I thought we were the better side in the first half and deserved to be in front at half-time.
"For some reason we stepped off the gas a bit at the start of the second half and seemed to be waiting for things to happen.
"Their goal, however, spurred us on again and thankfully we got the winner and had opportunities to score more goals.
"Once again we weren't clinical enough in the final third which is an ongoing concern, but its three points in the bag.
"I thought Gaz (Gareth Evans) had an excellent game again and I was pleased with Joe McMahon on his debut. The longer the game went on the more comfortable he looked. It was also his header which set up the winning goal so he can been pleased with his night's work."
The Seagulls, however, have another injury concern with skipper Damien Allen, who had stud marks down both thighs from one dreadful challenge on him, is also nursing an knee injury from that challenge which forced him to come off early in the second half.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Lea, Challinor, McMahon, McLachlan,Evans, Allen (McGraa 51mins), Noon, Newby (Titchiner 87mins), Sheridan (Davey 74mins). Subs not used: Sheehan and Metcalf.
Attendance: 206.

COLWYN BAY dropped to seventh on Wednesday night when Worksop beat Stocksbridge PS 2-1 and moved up from seventh to fourth place, two points above the Seagulls from the same number of games.
Six teams below the top two are now separated by just two points.

NEW signing Joe McMahon gets an early call-up for Colwyn Bay's home game against Burscough at Llanelian Road on Tuesday (7.45pm).
The centre-back, who was only signed from Marine last Friday, comes in for Danny Grannon who has been sidelined with a pulled hamstring.
That's a big blow as Danny has been outstanding for the Seagulls this season.
There is also a big doubt over keeper Chris Sanna with an ankle injury.
"Chris was quite sore yesterday, but we'll leave it as late as possible and if we think we can get away with strapping the ankle up then we will," reported player-manager Dave Challinor.
Otherwise reserve keeper Andy Metcalf will come in for his first game of the season.
Shell-shocked Colwyn Bay are trying to recover from last Saturday's embarrassing 6-0 home defeat to Northwich Victoria which ended their eight-match unbeaten run.
Challinor is also concerned that the Bay, while unbeaten away from home, have won only one of their five home games in the league this season.
"We have struggled to pick up points at Llanelian Road and we are looking at possibly changing the way we play at home to try and put that right," he said.
Burscough are also looking to recover from a heavy defeat last Saturday, when they lost 5-0 at Chasetown.
That was their fourth defeat in their last six games and they have failed to score in seven of their 12 league and FA Cup games so far. But they are only one point behind Colwyn Bay in the table, having played a game more, and know that a win on Tuesday would lift them above the Seagulls and back into the top 10.
Colwyn Bay (from) Sanna or Metcalf, Denson, Lea, Challinor, McMahon, McLachlan, Evans, Allen, Noon, Newby, McGraa, Sheridan, Sheehan, Davey, O'Sullivan, Titchiner, Bailey.